President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih
Berri and Premier-designate Najib Miqati attended a ceremony and mass in
Bkirki on Saturday in honor of Outgoing Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah
Sfeir.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri represented Pope
Benedict XVI at the event held on the occasion of Sfeir's 25-year
tenure.
Ministers, MPs and other officials were also present.
The Papal ambassador to Lebanon, Gabriel
Caccia, said during the mass that Lebanon won't be able to become strong
and a mediator for peace in the world without the Christian presence in
the country.
He also lauded Sfeir for his role in consolidating national identity in Lebanon.
The outgoing patriarch prayed during
the mass for bishops to make the right choice in the election of the new
leader of the Maronite church and thanked the officials for their
presence.
"I ask forgiveness from those who thought that I offended them in any way," he said.
For the first time in 25 years, Sfeir
didn't issue a message of lent given that the patriarchate is busy with
preparations to elect a new patriarch.
feir, who is 90 years old, asked to
be relieved of his post because of his age, and the pope accepted the
resignation last week.
The Synod of bishops will begin meetings to elect a new leader on March 9.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Ministers Fadi
Abboud and Youssef Saadeh left the mass as soon as it started over the
alleged adoption of wrong seating protocol at the church.
Caretaker
Minister Jebran Bassil did not attend the mass.
Following closed-door talks between
Miqati and Sfeir, the premier-designate said the outgoing patriarch has
been keen on the unity of the land and the people, Miqati said.